New survey assesses Christian formation needs
Results to inform proposal to the 227th General Assembly (2026)
The current Christian education practices and resource needs of churches, new worshiping communities and immigrant fellowships are the focus of a new survey produced by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Research Services in partnership with the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and the Interim Unified Agency’s Office of Christian Formation. This survey and follow-up research are conducted under the direction of the 226th General Assembly (2024).
The hope of these three PC(USA) entities is to gather a breadth of responses by March 15. The survey is available in three languages: English, Korean and Spanish, which can be accessed at the survey link. The questionnaire uses a variety of formats, including multiple choice and long-form answers, to achieve its purpose of grasping the current practices in Christian formation and the need for future resourcing or curricular support.
In addition to this survey, Research Services will use focus groups and interviews with practitioners to inform the data. Researchers will also reach out intentionally to groups cited by the 226th General Assembly’s resolution directing their work. This direction asks that attention be paid to the needs of small churches, LGBTQIA+ communities, diverse communities and individuals who understand disability equity.
“The more responses we get and the more varied responses we get that represent the denomination, the better,” said the Rev. David Maxwell, vice president for Curriculum and Church Resources of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
Collecting research about what resources are needed in Christian education is the first phase of the work to create an array of models and plans that the PPC and the Office of Christian Formation can bring to the 227th General Assembly. The second phase of creating models and plans will take place this summer, with preparations in the fall to submit these for consideration by the next General Assembly, which will convene online and in Milwaukee from June 23 to July 2, 2026.
“We’re not just talking about congregations,” said Miatta Wilson, associate in the Office of Christian Formation, who described a desire to hear about ways formation is happening in the context of small groups, immigrant fellowships, new worshiping communities and camp or conference ministry. Wilson said the survey and the other research tactics are “to help us think about things that include but are also much bigger than what we think of as traditional curriculum.” The research will capture future needs as well as current practices as respondents consider whether resources need to be downloadable, intergenerational, weekly or monthly, lectionary or thematic, and seasonable. According to Wilson, formation is happening in many varied contexts and intervals, and because of this, she hopes respondents will make good use of the free space for long-form answers about their needs and their hopes for Christian formation support by the denomination.
“Our main goal is for people to take this survey that’s out there,” said Maxwell, who described how “it’s coming in a number of different ways” to people. He urges people not to wait to fill it out or to worry if there are duplicate entries, because Research Services has a process to determine multiple responses from a specific community.
Maxwell and Wilson are eager to review the results and to get to work on bringing what shall be, according to the previous General Assembly resolution, “a concrete proposal regarding funding, staffing, and implementation to the 227th General Assembly (2026).”
Fill out the survey by March 15.
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